Baker’s Dozen: Week 3 Preview
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The 2023 New Mexico High School football season has entered Week 3. Games begin Thursday night with a handful of contests around the state and runs through Saturday afternoon. The schedule is highlighted by a clash between two Class 6A…
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Continue ReadingThe 2023 New Mexico High School football season has entered Week 3. Games begin Thursday night with a handful of contests around the state and runs through Saturday afternoon. The schedule is highlighted by a clash between two Class 6A heavyweight teams at the Field of Dreams. Here are our Top 13 games of Week 3 of what promises to be another exciting three days of football.
GAME OF THE WEEK: La Cueva at Centennial (Sat., 1 p.m., Field of Dreams)
Technically, both teams are 0-2 going into this matchup but knowledgeable high school football analysts understand these are two of the top teams in Class 6A and both could still earn top four playoff seeds when early November rolls around. We learned yesterday La Cueva had forfeited its Week 1 win over Rio Rancho due to using an ineligible player. Still, La Cueva is No. 2 and Centennial No. 3 in the MaxPreps poll. They are No. 2 and No. 4, respectively, in the Coaches poll, sandwiching Volcano Vista (Hawks face La Cueva next week).
The premier position matchup is this game is the quarterbacks. La Cueva’s Cameron Dyer Cameron Dyer 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB La Cueva | 2025 State NM and Centennial’s Danny Hernadez are two of the best signal callers in the state. Both will play at the next level. Dyer has thrown for 464 yards in the first two games, though like the rest of the La Cueva offense he’s looking to bounce back after a mediocre showing at Cleveland. Hernadez showcased his elite dual threat skills last week at El Paso (TX) Franklin by running for 149 yards and two long TDs while completing 17-of-25 passes for 170 yards.
Both teams also have elite receivers ( Jordan Lucas Jordan Lucas 5'10" | 170 lbs | WR Centennial | 2025 State NM has 15 receptions in the first two games for Centennial; La Cueva has arguably the fastest WR corps in the state) and stout defenses. La Cueva LB Mason Posa Mason Posa 6'3" | 210 lbs | LB La Cueva | 2025 State NM and Centennial LB John Sierra John Sierra 6'2" | 210 lbs | LB Centennial | 2024 State NM both hold FBS offers, and both have strong supporting casts. If you ranked the defenses in 6A, both teams would be in the Top 5.
Carlsbad at Volcano Vista (Sat.): This will be the third meeting between these schools in the past three seasons. Two years ago, Carlsbad traveled to Albuquerque for a first round playoff game won by Volcano Vista. Last year the Hawks made the journey to Carlsbad for the front half of this home-and-home series and returned home with a 32-19 win. Both teams have first-year quarterbacks and rely on solid ground games led by RB Alijah ‘A-Train’ Gonzales (Volcano Vista) and Ulysses Mendoza Ulysses Mendoza RB Carlsbad | 2024 State NM (Carlsbad). Most likely, the team that runs the ball the best will win.
Los Lunas at Farmington: After impressive double-digit victories over a pair of local rivals (Piedra Vista; Durango, CO), Farmington is knocking on the door of the Top 3 teams in Class 6A. They are currently ranked No. 4 in the MaxPreps poll behind only the ‘Big Three’ of Cleveland, La Cueva and Centennial. Big and powerful QB Trel Griego Trel Griego 6'3" | 225 lbs | QB Farmington | 2024 State NM is the engine of the Scorpions offense. He accounted for 6 TDs against Durango (4 passing, 2 rushing). Michael Beck Michael Beck 6'3" | 160 lbs | WR Farmington | 2025 State NM is a very underrated WR. Los Lunas also started the season 2-0 with victories over Belen and Alamogordo. Damacio Kaneshiro Damacio Kaneshiro QB Los Lunas | 2024 State NM has been productive for the Tigers after winning the QB job during preseason camp. Ethan Olguin Ethan Olguin 6'0" | 165 lbs | WR Los Lunas | 2024 State NM has 205 receiving yards in the first two games and is averaging 25.6 yards per catch.
Roswell at Hobbs: Roswell is the second best team in Class 5A behind district rival Artesia, outscoring its first two opponents by 103-24. The Coyotes are solid in every phase, starting at quarterback with Manny Fuentez and RB Bryce Sanchez Bryce Sanchez 5'10" | 195 lbs | RB Roswell | 2024 State NM . They are outstanding on defense as well with several next level caliber players. Hobbs opened the new season with a win at Clovis but lost by 36 points at Artesia in Week 2. The Eagles are looking to rebound behind the offensive trio of QB Brock Beaty Brock Beaty 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB Hobbs | 2025 State NM , RB Saul Armendariz Saul Armendariz 5'8" | 175 lbs | RB Hobbs | 2024 State NM and WR Jeremiah Jaquez Jeremiah Jaquez 5'8" | 145 lbs | WR Hobbs | 2024 State NM . The defense must play better, too.
West Las Vegas at Portales: When teams began releasing their 2023 schedules during the spring, this game jumped out as one of the premier 4A/3A battles. It’s a classic matchup between the high-powered West Las Vegas offense led by junior QB CJ Perea CJ Perea 5'10" | QB West Las Vegas | 2025 State NM (nearing the 5,000 yard career passing mark) and the fast, aggressive Portales defense that has pitched shutouts in the first two games. LB Manny Chavez Manny Chavez 5'11" | 170 lbs | LB Portales | 2025 State NM and DB Devin Diaz Devin Diaz 6'0" | 185 lbs | LB Portales | 2024 State NM are dynamic for the Rams defense. Portales possesses a prolific offense as well with junior QB Paxton Culpepper Paxton Culpepper 6'0" | 150 lbs | QB Portales | 2025 State NM . Can the Dons’ defense contain the Portales offense enough while Perea and the WLV offense duel with the Portales D? Intriguing question.
Gadsden at Alamogordo: Downtrodden for decades, Gadsden is writing another feel good story in 2023. Last week’s 21-14 road win at El Paso (TX) High is one of the most impressive victories by ANY New Mexico school in the first two weeks. The Panthers’ defense has been lights out so far this season with DL Nathaniel Lopez Nathaniel Lopez 6'1" | 260 lbs | DL Gadsden | 2024 State NM standing out. Stopping 6-foot-3, 185-pound Alamogordo senior QB Elijah Montoya Elijah Montoya 6'1" | 175 lbs | QB Alamogordo | 2024 State NM and the Tigers offense offers a nice challenge for Gadsden.
Deming at Goddard: If there’s a 2-0 team flying under the radar, it’s Deming. The Wildcats have posted victories over Del Norte and Organ Mountain to start the season but the pollsters are unimpressed. MaxPreps has Deming behind a winless Piedra Vista team in the 5A rankings and behind three 0-2 teams in the overall state rankings. First-year coach Rich Perales has the Wildcats playing good football. However, Deming faces their stiffest challenge yet with a trip to the Wool Bowl in Roswell to face a Goddard team eager to rebound from last week’s loss to Carlsbad.
Eldorado at Atrisco Heritage (Thur.): Speaking of teams searching for a bounce back, you can rightfully put Eldorado in that category as well. After an eye-opening Week 1 win over Cibola, the Eagles came back to earth a bit with the Week 2 weather-delayed loss to Rio Rancho. This game could give us a better answer to the question of whether Eldorado is truly improved this season. We’ll also learn more about Atrisco Heritage and whether the Jaguars are playoff contenders. Junior QB Landon Griego Landon Griego 5'11" | 170 lbs | QB Atrisco Heritage Academy | 2025 State NM has filled in nicely for the recuperating Dean Marquez Dean Marquez 5'11" | 175 lbs | QB Atrisco Heritage | 2024 State NM .
Sandia at Albuquerque High: Before the season, who predicted Sandia and Albuquerque High would be a combined 3-0 entering this game? Sandia’s defense was outstanding in Week 2’s shutout win over Piedra Vista. However, head coach Chad Adcox wants to see improvement from the Matadors’ offense. Albuquerque High enjoyed a bye last week after beating Organ Mountain at home in Week 1. Chances are good they won’t have elite OL TJ McCarthy TJ McCarthy 6'4" | 295 lbs | OL Albuquerque | 2024 State NM , who suffered a knee sprain in Week 1.
Organ Mountain at Mayfield: The first intercity matchup involving the four Las Cruces schools. Organ Mountain is still looking for its first win of the season under new coach Kenenth Sanchez, while Mayfield routed Manzano in its opener and had last week off. Junior Luke Linnan Luke Linnan QB Mayfield | 2025 State NM is the new Mayfield QB. Organ Mountain’s defense has struggled to stop opponents in the first two weeks.
Los Alamos at Capital: We figured the Los Alamos offense would be dynamic this season with QB Kyle Evenhus Kyle Evenhus 6'1" | 180 lbs | QB Los Alamos | 2025 State NM , speedy WR Melaki Gutierrez Melaki Gutierrez 6'1" | 150 lbs | WR Los Alamos | 2024 State NM and others, and so far they have been with 75 points scored. The Hilltoppers defense? They’ve posted consecutive shutouts over Espanola Valley and Taos to start the season. Capital will try to become the first team to score on them this season. The Jaguars started the season with a win at Grants before battling local rival St. Michael’s to the end in a 28-20 Week 2 loss.
Santa Rosa at Robertson: A fascinating Class 2A/3A matchup. Robertson, seemingly a perennial 3A championship contender, is No. 2 behind St. Michael’s in both the MaxPreps and Coaches polls. The Cardinals won a defensive struggle (3-0) over Cobre last week after winning on the road over Socorro in Week 1. Win this game and Robertson could (should?) be 6-0 going into the monster matchup with St. Michael’s on Oct. 6. Santa Rosa lost a 28-26 heartbreaker to Texico last week. Nicolas Chavez Nicolas Chavez 5'9" | 150 lbs | RB Santa Rosa | 2024 State NM is one of the best RBs in 2A and already has 365 rushing yards in the first two games.
Cibola at West Mesa: What makes this game captivating is that it’s a must-win for both teams, particularly considering their future schedules and the different districts they compete in. Cibola is off to a slow start (0-2) with losses to Eldorado and Valley, scoring just 23 points in the process. But with an inexperienced sophomore quarterback, the Cougars knew the first few weeks of the campaign could be a steep learning curve. West Mesa opened the season with an emphatic road win at Santa Fe, but the Mustangs discovered in the Week 2 loss to Volcano Vista that they still have a ways to go to compete with the best teams in Class 6A. Don’t count out West Mesa QB Elijah Brody Elijah Brody 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB West Mesa | 2024 State NM , though. He’s one of the best signal callers in the state.
NEW MEXICO VS TEXAS
Amarillo (TX) at Cleveland
Rio Rancho at El Paso (TX) Eastlake
Las Cruces at El Paso (TX) Eastwood
Amarillo (TX) Randall at Clovis
Hot Springs at Anthony (TX)
Ropes (TX) at Eunice
BEST OF THE REST
Valley at St. Pius X (Thur.)
St. Michael’s at Santa Fe
Cobre at Silver
Lovington at Santa Teresa
Texico at NMMI
Bloomfield at Grants
Hope Christian at Albuquerque Academy
OTHER GAMES
Taos at Rio Grande
Bernalillo at Del Norte
Artesia at Belen
Moriarty at Newcomb
Shiprock at Cuba
Laguna-Acoma at Sanat Fe Indian (Thur.)
Miyamura at Gallup (Thur.)
Socorro at Estancia
Hatch Valley at Tularosa
Aztec at Bayfield (CO)
Espanola Valley at Escalante
Thoreau at Kirtland Central
Dexter at Hagerman
Piedra Vista at Durango (CO)
Zuni at Crownpoint
Chaparral at Ruidoso
Tohatchi at Wingate
Mescalero Apache at Cloudcroft
Hozho Academy at Capitan